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The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs (McReynolds), House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, January 8, 1938.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN McREYNOLDS:

In reply to your inquiry I would say that on
December 15, 1937, in referring to the Ludlow Resolution, I stated to the press
that "from the standpoint of promoting peace and keeping this country out
of war, I am unable to see either the wisdom or practicability of this proposal".

The primary objective in the conduct of our
foreign affairs is to safeguard the peace of the United States. All American
citizens agree alike that this country should be safeguarded against war to the
fullest possible extent. It is my judgment that under our present form of
government "of the people, by the people, and for the people", our
foreign affairs can be conducted far more efficiently from the standpoint of
keeping this country out of war than would be at all possible under the
operation of any such plan as the Ludlow Resolution proposes. After the fullest
consideration I am satisfied that this plan would most seriously handicap the
Government in the conduct of our foreign affairs generally, and would thus
impair disastrously its ability to safeguard the peace of the American people.